What is Dragon Fruit?

Dragon fruit, which is also known as pitahaya, is abundantly found in the tropical and subtropical regions of South America and Asia.

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The fruit is appropriately called so as its outer skin resembles a cactus. It is considered to be a cactus plant and has vibrant green and reddish pink color with a creamy white flesh with black seeds inside.

Dragon Fruit - Nutrition Facts

Nutrition facts for the red skinned, white fleshed dragon fruit are given as per 100 g of edible serving of the fruit.

Reduces Signs of Aging: The antioxidants in dragon fruit tightens skin and gives it a youthful appearance. It has anti-aging properties and reduces facial wrinkles. The antioxidants work against the free radicals thus delaying the aging of the skin.

Helps in Good Digestion: Dragon fruit has a high fiber content which makes it a great remedy for poor digestion and constipation. The flesh and seeds of the fruit contain protein which fortify the body and also maintains good health. It helps in stimulating bowel movement.

Helps Maintain Healthy Hair: Dragon fruit keeps the hair follicles open, allows it to breathe and keeps them healthy and smooth. It is excellent for treating colored hair.

Suppresses Arthritis: Dragon fruit can help alleviate symptoms of arthritis such as irritation and immobility. Health benefits of dragon fruit for people with arthritis are so good that the fruit has been rechristened as “anti-inflammatory fruit.”

Soothe Skin Problems: Since, dragon fruit is rich in vitamin C, it acts as a very good ointment for acne skin. Dragon fruit can also soothe sun burned skin. It aids in moisturizing skin as it is rich in vitamin B3. When mixed with cucumber juice and honey, dragon fruit can soothe burned skin.

Regulates Diabetes: Due to its high fiber content,dragon fruit helps in normalizing the blood sugar levels by reducing the increase in blood sugar levels.

Boosts Immunity: The minerals and vitamins present in dragon fruit such as vitamins C, B1, B2 and B3, calcium, phosphorus, iron, protein, and niacin help in improving the function of immune system. It helps in preventing respiratory disorders, cough, cold, flu and even asthma.

Helps in Weight Management: Dragon fruit is a good ingredient of weight loss diets as it has very low levels of cholesterol. Dragon fruit keeps you full for a long time after you have eaten. The fiber content also helps in enhancing the metabolic rate thus improving the weight management.

Dragon Fruit Recipe

Fruit Salad with Chocolate Sauce Topping

Ingredients

For the Chocolate Sauce:

25 g/1oz unsalted butter

2 tbsp. cocoa powder

50g/13/4 oz. castor sugar

100 ml/31/2fl oz. double cream

For the Fruit Salad:

½ mango peeled, stone removed, cut into cubes

½ dragon fruit peeled, flesh cut into cubes

1 tbsp. roughly chopped fresh mint leaves

Preparation

Chocolate sauce is prepared by melting butter in a frying pan over medium flame. Add cocoa powder and castor sugar, mix well, add the double cream and stir properly until a smooth consistency is achieved. Fruit salad is prepared by mixing mango cubes and dragon fruit cubes in a bowl along with mint leaves. Before serving, drizzle over the chocolate sauce on the fruit salad in the bowl.

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